Lower Your Summer Air-Conditioning Costs

HARTFORD — “Although June was cooler than normal, the heat and humidity are likely to take their toll on home energy budgets before the summer is through,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr, said in an advisory issued July 1. “We’d like to offer some simple suggestions to help keep air-conditioning costs down.”

When installing window units, choose a shady spot to increase efficiency up to ten percent. Energy Star-qualified models will save money in the long run, so look for the Energy Star label when shopping for a new air conditioner.

Start at medium. Do not set the air conditioner to a maximum cool setting immediately when turning it on. It will not cool the room any faster, but it will certainly use more energy.

Postpone using appliances until early morning or late evening. Air conditioners will not have to work as hard to offset the heat produced by the appliances. Running appliances during off-peak hours also reduces the stress on the power grid, helping to prevent brownouts.

You may also pay less for electricity during nonpeak hours.

Maintain your air conditioner — dirty, clogged filters increase energy use.

Clean the filter on window and central air conditioners monthly or as needed by vacuuming and washing. Some filters need to be replaced. Clear debris from outside louvers and coils. Outside, keep plants and shrubs at least two feet from the condenser.

Dim the lights. Common incandescent light bulbs emit a great deal of heat. Turn off unnecessary lights in your home.

Also consider replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs. They use about 75 percent less energy and give off 75 percent less heat than incandescent bulbs.

Create shade. Use awnings, shades, and blinds to keep sunlight from entering your home, especially in west and south-facing windows.

“Summerize” your home. Adding insulation and sealing air leaks help keep occupants comfortable year-round and can also lower energy bills by hundreds of dollars a year. Start by insulating the attic or adding to the insulation already there.

Use fans. When the outside air is cooler than that inside your home, fans can come in handy. Vent fans draw in the cool air and exhaust the hot air.

Window fans are inexpensive to operate and easy to install. To boost the chimney effect in which warm air rises and vents naturally, place one fan blowing in on the ground floor, and another one blowing out on the floor above.